Electric-light regulator



L. AND A. G. SAWYER-SUCY.

ELECTRIC LIGHT HEGULATUH.

APPLICATION FILED FBI 25, 1920.4

Patented May 18, 1920.

"if ,III III III III III flr fi I II'III'I AII.

m E www V W I I I I I I II lill 'I I bei vl`To all'whom #may cabecera."

han

on line 5-5 of Fig.

`SrnglES PATENZOFFICE. i

`Louis samen-sauer AND annum* s. servan-souci', or LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

Be a knpwn ,native-'gimme A y y Sonor and ALBERT G. LSAWYnn-SQUCY, gboth citizens ofthe UnitedS-tates, 4and both re- 4 siding at Lynn, countyof Essex; State of have invented a certain new rovement in Electric-.Light ssachusetts, and useful Imp Regulators' Iof which'the following is a speciication, reference being -had therein to the accompanying drawings, v

The object of the invention is to provide an improved means for varyingthe resistance so'as to vary rent and to correspondinglyincrease or deminish the intensit of the illumination ,of an electric light. ne feature of the inventionrelates to the resistance coil. Another feature relates to the switch. Another fea.- -ture ofthe invention relates to fthe `construction vof therheostat in sueh. ,mannerasrto make it readily adapted for usein connec tionl with any ordinary design of electric lam socket. p 1 y T e invention will AbeJully understood from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying draw-4 ings, and the novel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined intheclaims at the close of this specification.

vation partly broken away, showing a portion of an electric socket equipped witha rheostatjembodying the invention. i

Fig. 2 is a section'v line of F51.. Fig 3 is aview jin diagram showing the lamp Socket and rheostat inunassembled re-v lation .to each other. I

Fig. 5 is a. section through the .coil-taken Referring now to thedrawings, lfrepresents the lamp, 2-the 'lamp-base; and 3 the socket of an ordinary incandescent electric` light. 4 represents'the positive binding postV which has electrical connection vwith the a rheostat whichwill be herefully described, said rheostat l.indicated at lamp through inafter more having electrical connection as the lamp-base 2. 6 represents thenegative binding post which has electrical connection=- with the'lamp through the contactmember` 7. carried bylthe 1am`p-base'2. 'UI`he lead ythe intensity 'of the cur- In the drawings, Iigure l is a'view in elelight, bulb attached! tov a Fig. 4 1s a detail view of the switch mem? 3. which is in contactwvith,l

Application niet February as, 1920. serial ivo. 331,231;

a line wire 11,' the tape bem vSpecification of Letters fatent. 1 Patented May 18, 1920.'

wires 36 and 37 are connectedwith the bindposts 4 and 6 inthe usual manner. he ,lamp socket may be of ordinary form. e upper part oflthe'socket contains the insulating. member which may be composed o'f disks of mica, orother suitable insulating materia-l; whichis 4formed with' a rooved head 6 passes up through the insulating sleeve 8 which is inclosed within the resistance coil `9, saidbinding post being screw-threaded at its upper end for the 'reception of a nut for securing the lead wire 37. i

The sleeve. 8 through which 4the binding post 6' passes forms a core for the resistance coil Band is composed of insulating 1naterial. a tape 1,0 having wound spirally around it "wound into a roll and having a layer o .heatfproof 4or fire-resisting cement betweenthe several laps shown in F 3.

ployed is anysuitable heat- 4 `sisting insulating .cement Vwound `up into a rollaroundthe sleeve 8v as of elly rollgcoil and the rol' adhere so r ment is dry that any attempt tounroll the the roll firmly uniting' them together as The tapeemployed is preferably what is known to the trade .as mica tape, and consists of a thin layer of micabetween two sheets of insulating material.

he wire is wound around the fiat mica tape before the tape is-rolled. up, and there is applied to the face of the tape fter itis Wound a coating of heat-proof :or re-resisting insulating-cement 30. VThe cement emroof or fire-re7 he tape is then score while the cem'ent is sticky', and Athis causesthe several lapsof the roll to` firmly adhere together. `,The AWhole makes a sort several laps of theV firmly together when the. ce-

coil will result in practical disintegration or at least destruction ofl the roll,` as it will be 4impossible to separate the different layers of the `rollfor to detach them fromz each other" so as 4to straighten out the tape into the original flattened.v form. I consider this desirable Vas I 4do unotdesire to have thejrollcapable of being .unrolled'and in any way used again` The cementkBO will serveV to insulatetheseveralwindings of the tape from eachother as well as cement gethen n ings',4 preferably at intervals of abouty forty windings ofthe wiregthere is introduced a ,and the binding post 6.

-Thefresistance coil 9 is'composed of them to- 4t intervals of ajcerta'in number ofi-wind.-

thin metal band 12 around the tape with which the wire 11 is connected, thc metal bands being unions between the several sections of wire` There arc preferably as many series of these sections oi windings as the numberI oiE gradations in the diilcrent variations in the strength of light desired. The bands 12, however, are not absolutely essential, the principal purpose ol' these bands being to strengthen the tape so that it will not'be eut through by the wire. The cement 30 will be laid on over the metal bands l2 as well as over the wire.

A disk 13 of fiber or other suitable insulating material is mounted iast upon the binding post G and serves as a switch plate. Upon this disk or switch plate there is mounted a semi-annular contact member 14 of suitable conducting material, one end olf which is electrically connected with the positive binding' post l. (in the surface ol the disk 1? are a series ol inetallii,l contact blocks 15 spaced apart from cach other and disposed in are formation concentric with the Contact member 14 to complete the cin cle with the contact member 11. These blocks 15, however, are insulated from each other and from the ends ot' the semiannular Contact member 14 by the insulating switch plate 13. In the drawings there are seven of Vthese Contact blocks 15. the apparatus being shown as arranged for seven successive variations in the light. These blocks are respectively connected with the resistance coil at regular intervals apart, these intervals preferably corresponding with the metallic bands 12. the connections being made with the metallic bands. The Said various electrical connections between the blocks 15 and the bands 12 are by means of the wires 16, 17V, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 respectively. A wire 23 makes electrical connection between the outer end or first band 12 of the resistance coil and the lamp, as shown in Fig. 3. Y y

VThe switch consists of a disk member 24 of suitable conducting material, which is secured to the under side of an insulating disk 26, as for instance by means of rivets 35, and is formed with two contact fingers 27 and 28 extending from the disk diametrically opposite each other. The disk 24 of the switch member and the insulating disk 26 are formed with apertures through the center, so that the switch may be rotatably mounted upon the center bmding post 6 with the switch member on the under side so that it may contact with the contact member 14 and 1blocks 15. Une of the fingers, as 28, wlll always be in contact with the semi-annular contact member 14 which always has an electrica-l connection with the positive binding post, and the other fin er 27 will always be in Contact with at east one of the blocks 15. Said switch member 2l may be rotated on the binding post (3, so lhat the linger 2i' may be made to contact with any one of the said blocksl l5 while the other linger 28 will always remain in contact with the semiannular incinbcr ll. rl`hc binding post 1 forms a stop lor thc linger 2T in one position and for the linger 28 when the switch is rotated its full stroke to carry the linger 2T as l'ar away as possible from the post 4, although the post L1- forms a stop for the linger 28 to prevent the switch from being rotated far enough to move the linger 28 out of contact with the member 14.

Then the linger 2T is in contact with the lett-hand block 15 shown in Fig. 3, the cir cuit will bc from the binding post l throu h the contact 14 and switch 24 to the first block 15, thence through the wire 1G, the hand l2 at the cud of the lirstl section of the coil and thc wire 22% to thciwlamp, and out through the othcr'bixuling post 6, and this will take the l'ull strength oi the current.

if the switch 21 is turned so as to bring the finger 2T into contact with the second block 15, the current will then follow through the wire 1T to the resistance coil, thence back through the first section of the resistance coil to the wire 23, and thence to the lamp as before, so that the light will have been diminished in proportion to the amount ot resistance of the first section oi the resistance coil.

By turning the switch 24 so that the finger 2T contacts with the third block 15, the circuit will be through the wire 18 to the resistance coil, and thence back through the first two sections of the resistance coil, and then on through the wire 23. Thus by turning the switch 24, the circuit may be made through any of the wires 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22, increasing the resistance according to the number of sections of resistance coil through which the current has to pass, and consequently diminishing the light accordingly. It is obvious that the number of blocks 15 may be increased or diminished according to the number of gradations of variation in light desired. If the switch is rotated far enough for the `finger 27 to pass beyond the last one of the series of blocks 15 toward the binding post 4. the circuit' will be broken and the light will be thrown off.

The switch may be rotated in any suitable manner. The preferable method, however, is to provide the disk 26 on which the switch is mounted with a peripheral groove 32 to receive a chain 29 wound around it as shown in Fig. 1, the two ends of the chain passing out through a hole 33 in a casing 34 which incloses the rheostat. The ends of the-chain may be provided with a pull ring, or other suitable grasping device, by means of which one end of the chain or the other may be pulled according to the direction in which it is desired to rotate the switch. Within the. casing 34 is a lining 35 of insulating mate*- rial.

1. A rheostat coil consisting of a tape of insulating material wound with fine wire and coated on at least one face with a heatresisting, `non-conducting cement, which covers the wire as Well as the tape, said Wirewound tape being rolled into a coil,'t lie several laps of tape in the coil being adhesively united together by the said cement.

2. A rheostat coil consisting of a tape of iion-conducting material Wound with fine Wire, a plurality of thin metallic bands around the tape, one for each series of a cei-, tain number of windings of wire, and a coatingV of heat-resisting, non,-conducting cement over the face of the Wire tape, said cement-coated tape being Wound into a roll, the several laps of the Wire-wound tape being adhesively bound together by the said cement.

3. A rheostat coil consisting of a tape of insulating material Wound with fine Wire and coated on at least one face With a heat resisting, non -conducting cement, which covers the Wire as Well 'as the tape, said wirewound tape being rolled into a coil, the several laps of` tape in the coil bein'gIr adhesivelylunited together b the said cement, the cement between the layers being suffi# ciently adhesive to render the several layers `:electrical connection with "wires o'f an electric' circuit,

inseparable from each other mechanically except by disintegration. Y y

4. In combination with anvelectric light socket having an insulating -disk in the base! thereof, a binding post which passes centrally through said insulating disk and the,

base Aof the said socket, said binding post having 'a head which engages the saidV disk on the inside of the socket and makes contact with one of. the contact points of the lamp,l an insulating sleeve through which the said binding post passes after` passin throughl said disk, a switch plate disk of insulating material through whiclithe said'binding post and sleeve pass, member secured to the face of said switch plate disk.coaxial with said binding post, a second binding post `Which is mounted on said-switch plate disk and has electricallconf nectionvvith one end of said semi-annularl contact membervsaidtwo bindingposts being respectively Yprovided Witlrmeans for Y the leading-in a plurality of contact points mounted on said switchl plate '-tact member and insulated disk disposed in an arc of a circle incontinuation of the arc of said semi-annul'arcon-- from each other and from said annular contact member, a

rotar switch mounted on, the sivitcli plate and t rough which said central binding post Apasses loosely, saidswitch `having two oppois adapted to make `contact member, and

Vcontact, points,

a semi-annular contact l Vof Vsaid binding `nection With an electric Wire in a circuit,

Y said. disk dis which. passesV centrally through sai the lower end vof said-'postbeing a' contactsicily @needing angers, one of which is in engagement With the face of said. semi-annular contact member, and theother of which one or the other` of points according to switch member on its coil having electrical connection with one of the contact points in the lamp socket, and having at graduated points in its windings electrical connections With one of thefsevsaid separate contact *the position of the eral separate Contact points on the switch' disk.

A disk of insulating material having secured to one face thereof a semi-annular contact member, a bindin post mounted on said disk near-itsv pei-'ip ery, and having electrical connection semi-annular Contact member,` the upper end of said binding post being adapted for connection with an electric wire' in a circuit, a plurality of contact points mounted 4on said disk disposed in arowfin an arc of a circle in continuation of the.

adapted for connection with an electric Wire in a circuit, an apertuied insulating disk through which said central binding post passes loosely, said last disk having mounted on its face a switch having two arms, one of which engages with said s'emi-minular gages with one or another of the separate the switch being rotatable to cause its engagement 'with any one of said separate contact points while it remains in contact with said semi-annular VContact member.

6,. A disk of insulating material having secured to one face the g contact member, a bindin post mounted on said disk near its perip ery, and havin electrical connection'with one end of said semi-annular contact member, the up er end post being adapted or cona plurality of contact points mounted on p osed in a rowwin an are of a circle in continuation of the from Yeach other,` a second binding,`

ist

point 'to engage with' onev of the contact points of a lamp, 'the upper-'end being Vadapted lfor connection with an electric; i

AWire ina circuit,an apertured insulating electrical contact with' axis, and a rheostat' with one Aend of said l arc formed by' 4said semi-annular contact member but insua secondbinding postl said disk I reof a semi-annular arc formed by ,said semi-annular contact member but insu-` llatedfrom said semiannular member and' the other of Wh'icliendisk through which said central binding post passes loosely, said last disk having mounted on its tace a switch having two arms. one of which engages with said semi-annular 5 contact member, and the other of which engages with one or another of the separate contact points, the switch being rotatable to canse its engagement with any one of said the groove of the disk to rotate the switch member in either direction according to the end of the flexible member which is pulled. '7. A disk of insulating material having secured to one face thereof a semi-annular contact member, a binding post mounted on said disk having electrical connection with one end of said semi-annular contact mem ber, the upper end of said binding post being adapted for connection with an electric wire in a circuit, a plurality of Contact points mounted on said disk disposed in a row 4in an arc of a circle in continuation of the are formedlby said semi-annular contact member but insulated from said semiannular member and from each other, a second bindin post which passes centrally through said disk and is surrounded by an insulating sleeve, the lower end of said post being a contact point to engage with one ot the contact points of a lamp, the upper end being adapted for connection with an electric wire in a circuit, an apertured insulating disk through which said central binding post passes loosely, said last disk having mounted on its face a switch having two arms, one of which engages with said semiannular Contact member, and the other of which engages with one or another of the separate contact points, the switch being rotatable to cause its engagement with any one of said separate contact points while it remains in Contact with said semi-annular contact member, in combination with a resistanee coil consisting of a tape of insulat- 1 ing material having outside resistance windings of wire, and a facing ilm of heatresisting, non-conducting cement, the wirewound tape with its cement facing being coiledl into` a roll with the film of cement between the several laps of tape, and an electricwire connection between each one of the contact members on the switch plate and the rheostat coil, the several connections with the said coil being at intervals of regularly increasing number of windings from the end of the coil.

` 8. A switch plate of insulating material having lsecured to one face thereof a semiannular contact member, a tact oints mounted on said disk and dispose in an arc of a circle inv continuation lurality of congetogen of the arc formed by said semi-annular con tact member, but insulated from said seniiannular member and from each other, a binding post which passes through said disk, the lower end ot' said post being adapted to serve a contact point, and the upper end being adapted for connection with an electric circuit, an apertured insulating disk through which said binding post passes loosely, said last disk having mounted on its face a switch which has one arm engaging with Said semi-annular contact member and another arm which is adapted to engage with one or another of the separate contact points according to the position of the switch, the switch being rotatable points while it remains in contact with said semiannular member.

9. A. switch plate of insulating material having secured to one face thereof, a semiannular contact member, a plurality of contact points mounted on said disk and dispensed in an arc of a circle in continuation of the arc formed by said semi-annular contact member but insulated from said semiannular member and from each other, a binding post which passes through said disk, the lower end of said post being adapted to serve as a contact point and the upper end being adapted for connection with an electric circuit, an apertured insulating disk through which said binding post passes loosely, said last disk having mounted on its face a switch which has one arm engaging with said semi-annular contact member and another arm which is adapted to engage with one or another of the separate contact points according to the position of the switchp the switch being rotatable to cause its engagement with any one of said separate contact vpoints while it remains in contact with said semi-annular member, said switch plate disk being formed with a peripheral pulley groove and a iiexible operating member which engages with said pulle' groove whereb the said switch plate disli may be rotate 10. A rheostat coil consisting of a tape of insulating material and coated on at least one face with a heatresisting, non-conducting cement, which covers the wire as well as the tape, said wire-wound tape being rolled into a coil, the several laps of tape in the coil being adhesivelv united together by the said cement, a bin ing post which passes centrally through said coil, means for insulating said binding post from said coil, the lower end of the binding post being adapted to serve as a contact point, and the upper end of vsaid post being'adapted electric circuit, a plate of insulating material through which said bindin post passes, a semi-annular contact mem er sewound with fine wireV to cause itsA engage A ment with any one of said separate contact for connection with an mounted on said switch plate and through which said central binding post passes loosely, said switch being rotatable to make contact with sald semi-annular member and A to also make Contact with anyv one desired of said separate contact points according to the position of the switch on its `axisl each of said separate contact points having electric Wire connections with said rheostat coil,y said several connections with the rheostat being at certain intervals apart from each other. A

11. In combination with an velectric light socket, a rheostat coil consisting of a tape ot insulating material having resistance wire windings around it, said tape being Wound in the form of a roll, the several laps of the tape being adhesively united together by a non-conducting, heat-resisting cement, a binding post passing centrally through said roll as a core, one end of said binding post being connected with the said socket and forming a contact member therein, the other end'of said binding post projecting beyond the end of the resistance coil and adapted for connection with an electric circuit, a switch plate of insulating material mounted on the end of the rheostat coil on the opposite side from the connection with the said socket, said bindin post passing centrally through said switch plate, a contact plate mounted on said disk having a bindingpost connected therewith-Which is also adaptedffor connection with one of the leading-in wires of the electric circuit, a plurality of contact points mounted on said disk insulated from each other and from said rst Contact plate,'and a switch rotatablir mounted on said first binding post and having ene arm which is adapted to engage with said contact plate, the other arm of which is adapted to engage with any one of the said separate contact points according to the position of the switch on its axis while said first arm continues in Contact with the said contact plate, and a separate electric wire connection between each one of said contact points on the switch plate and the rheostat coil, the connections with the resistance coil being at varying distances from 1the end of the resistance Wire.

In testimony whereof we aiiix-oursgnatures, in presence of two Witnesses.

LOUIS SAWYER-SOUCY. ALBERT G. Si* WYER-SOUCY.

Witnesses:

J. FRANK HUGHES, DANIEL F. OROUKE. 

